God Was With Us: Deliverance, Healing, and Praise

Apr 26, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When Men Rose Up

The Israelites sang of enemies surrounding them—Philistines with giants, Egyptians with chariots. They remembered how God split the Red Sea, how Moses’ rod became a weapon. Their song declared: without Yahweh’s presence, they’d have been “swallowed alive.” Their survival proved God fought for them. [50:58]

God doesn’t just defeat obvious enemies—He intervenes in hidden battles. The same power that held back Pharaoh’s army steers you through relational conflicts, workplace tensions, or inner struggles. Jesus walks into your locked rooms, your private wars, and breathes peace.

You’ve faced “Philistines” this year—people or pressures that threatened to consume you. Recall one specific crisis where collapse seemed inevitable. How did God rearrange the battlefield? Write “If not for the Lord…” over that memory. What enemy-rattling truth does your survival declare?

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us…the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul.”
(Psalm 124:2–4, NKJV)

Prayer: Thank God for a specific rescue from a person or pressure that once overwhelmed you.
Challenge: Text one person: “God helped me through ___. How can I pray for your battle today?”

Day 2: Waters, Streams, Swollen

The psalmist paints rising danger: first wading through knee-deep ponds, then fighting river currents, finally drowning in neck-high floods. Each stage required greater trust. Dry shoes after the Red Sea (Exodus 14:22) proved God’s power to preserve amid chaos. [53:49]

Jesus calms storms but often lets us feel the spray. He walked on waves to show disciples He rules what threatens them. Your flood—financial, emotional, relational—isn’t proof of His absence but a canvas for His “peace, be still.”

You’re in one of three waters today: manageable puddles, tugging currents, or swallowing waves. Name which. Then declare, “This water baptized my fear, not my faith.” Will you let today’s trouble become tomorrow’s testimony?

“Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul, then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul.”
(Psalm 124:4–5, NKJV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal His footstep path through your deepest flood.
Challenge: Fill a glass with water. Drink it slowly, thanking God He controls what could drown you.

Day 3: Bird From the Snare

Fowlers study birds—their appetites, flight patterns, weaknesses. They set traps near nectar, knowing hunger will override caution. The psalmist sings of escape: not just freedom from the cage, but the snare itself breaking. No reuse. [01:02:17]

Satan knows your nectar—the craving for validation, control, or comfort that makes you risk the branch. Jesus watched Peter deny Him, then rebuilt him post-resurrection. Your Maker knows how to reset your wiring, not just rescue you.

What nectar lures you into compromise? Is it gossip masquerading as concern, resentment dressed as justice? Confess the bait. Then ask: What new appetite is the Spirit cultivating in you to replace old hungers?

“Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.”
(Psalm 124:7, NKJV)

Prayer: Confess one specific “nectar” you’ve pursued instead of Christ’s fullness.
Challenge: Delete or unfollow one digital “snare” tempting you to compromise today.

Day 4: The Worship Leader’s Cry

The psalm begins twice (verses 1–2)—a worship leader calling, Israel responding. Pilgrims hiking to Jerusalem needed communal songs to drown out desert winds. Their antiphonal praise turned individual survival into collective testimony. [01:08:33]

Paul told the Ephesian church to “speak to one another in psalms” (Ephesians 5:19). Your breakthrough song isn’t just for your playlist—it’s someone else’s survival guide. When you vocalize deliverance, you line hymns for strugglers behind you.

Whose “psalm” strengthened you this year? A friend’s story, a mentor’s prayer, a stranger’s sermon? Today, your voice is someone’s worship leader. What line from your testimony can you share to help others harmonize hope?

“If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…Let Israel now say: ‘If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…’”
(Psalm 124:1–2, NKJV)

Prayer: Ask God to highlight one person needing to hear your rescue story this week.
Challenge: Write your “If not for the Lord…” testimony in three sentences. Share it before Sunday.

Day 5: Crooked but Healed

The pastor’s nose healed crooked after the crash—a visible reminder of survival. Like Jacob’s limp after wrestling God (Genesis 32:25), some scars testify: “I almost died here…yet I live.” Brokenness becomes a billboard for divine intervention. [43:03]

Jesus kept His scars post-resurrection (John 20:27). They proved death’s failure and His real body. Your unpretty healings—financial recovery, mended marriages, managed mental health—aren’t flaws. They’re proof you’re alive, loved, and repurposed.

What “crooked” place in your story feels too damaged to display? A fractured friendship? A stagnant dream? How might owning that scar—not hiding it—become someone else’s lifeline?

“Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.”
(Psalm 124:6, NKJV)

Prayer: Thank God for a wound He healed but didn’t erase.
Challenge: Post/tell about a “crooked” victory with the hashtag #HealedNotErased.

Sermon Summary

God’s protective presence frames the whole passage, inviting grateful remembrance of rescue across generations. The text calls worshipers to rehearse deliverance as they travel toward the temple, using Psalm 124 like a worship playlist that readies the soul for encounter. Personal testimony anchors the truth: near-death and brokenness become evidence not of abandonment but of providential keepsakes, scars that testify to continued life and purpose. The imagery moves from still water to rushing streams to swollen floods, portraying trials that escalate; in every grade of danger, a faithful Maker who both observes and intervenes turns traps into testimonies.

Rescue appears in vivid metaphors: the Red Sea and the Jordan, a bird snatched from a fowler, snares broken, and enemies thwarted. These images emphasize not only external salvation from foes but inward reformation by the One who made heaven and earth. Human weakness and habitual appetites often draw people into the very traps set for them, yet a hidden deliverer collides with the enemy’s plan and frees what was ensnared. Singing these recollections together models corporate memory—communal worship surfaces what individual sight might miss and strengthens faith for the next season.

Praise becomes the natural response: remembering God’s past acts fuels present worship and shapes future courage. The worship leader’s line and the people’s chorus show how communal liturgy instructs memory and steers celebration. Finally, the text presses toward an invitation: the deliverer who breathed life sustains ongoing relationship within a community that nurtures growth. The closing appeal underscores that salvation is not mere rule-keeping but a living relationship extended to those who acknowledge the Deliverer and join a people committed to practicing worship, repentance, and mutual care.

Key Takeaways

1. God's presence sustains through trials Remembering past deliverances reorients perception when present darkness obscures sight. The same God who intervened for ancestors and earlier crises remains an active, providential force now. This faith roots hope not in temporary feelings but in the historical faithfulness of the Maker. Remembering what God has done trains the soul to expect rescue again. [46:59]
2. Deliverance breaks learned snares Snares exploit inherited patterns and appetites, yet the deliverer targets the trap as well as the trapped. Salvation here includes both extraction and the breaking of systems that consistently entangle. Such rescue recognizes personal responsibility while exposing how generational and environmental forces work against flourishing. Liberation therefore reshapes behavior, not merely grants temporary escape. [62:17]
3. Worship rehearses divine memory Singing Psalm 124 functions as a pilgrimage playlist—preparing hearts for encounter and encoding communal testimony. Corporate liturgy amplifies forgotten grace and strengthens resolve for future storms. Repeated, embodied worship rewires memory so gratitude becomes the default response to trial. [45:11]
4. Faith invites sustained community Faith is presented as relationship, not religion, and joining a faith community supplies the rhythms necessary for growth. Community receives the rescued, disciplines the wavering, and co-labors in holiness through weekly practice and mutual care. The invitation points to a safe place to confess, heal, and be formed for vocation. [74:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[32:12] - Opening Prayer and Praise
[33:28] - Scripture Focus: Psalm 124
[37:37] - Reading Psalm 124 Aloud
[39:12] - Personal Testimony: Near-Death Rescue
[43:30] - Psalms of Ascent Explained
[46:59] - Reflecting on God's Presence
[50:58] - People and Predicaments
[62:17] - The Fowler and the Snare
[74:39] - Invitation to Faith and Community
[77:43] - Altar Response and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Psalm 124 (ESV)
1 If it had not been the Lord who was on our side—let Israel now say—
2 if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when people rose up against us,
3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;
4 then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;
5 then over us would have gone the raging waters.
6 Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth!
7 We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped!
8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Observation Questions

The psalm uses three escalating water metaphors: "flood," "torrent," and "raging waters." What do these images reveal about the nature of trials?
How does the sermon describe the purpose of singing Psalms like 124 as a "playlist" during pilgrimage? [45:11]
What personal story illustrates the idea that brokenness can become a "testimony of continued life and purpose"? [39:12]
According to the psalm, what two actions does God take in verse 7 to rescue His people?

Interpretation Questions

Why might the psalmist compare deliverance to a bird escaping a snare (v.7)? How does this connect to the sermon’s idea of "learned snares" exploiting human appetites? [01:03:05]
The sermon claims communal worship "surfaces what individual sight might miss." How does singing together strengthen faith differently than private reflection? [46:59]
The psalm moves from "if God had not been with us" (v.1-5) to "blessed be the Lord" (v.6-8). What does this shift teach about the relationship between memory and praise?
How does the imagery of God as both "Maker" (v.8) and deliverer deepen our understanding of His care in trials?

Application Questions

The sermon mentions "scars that testify to continued life." What healed "crooked" area in your story (physical, emotional, or spiritual) could you share as evidence of God’s presence? [43:03]
What recurring "snare" (habit, relationship, or thought pattern) have you struggled to escape? How might God be working to break the trap itself, not just rescue you temporarily? [01:02:17]
The Psalms of Ascent were sung while traveling to worship. What "playlist" (songs, scriptures, or practices) could you create to prepare your heart for encountering God daily?
The sermon emphasizes that "community disciplines the wavering." Who in your life has permission to point out when you’re nearing dangerous "nectar"? How can you cultivate that kind of relationship? [01:14:39]
The psalmist rehearses deliverance to fuel future courage. What past rescue from God could you intentionally recall this week when facing fear or doubt?
How might sharing your testimony of God’s faithfulness in a small group or with a friend "amplify forgotten grace" for others? [46:24]
The sermon warns that "the fowler studies generational patterns." What unhealthy cycle in your family or culture do you need God’s power to interrupt?

Sermon Clips

37s

#HealedByGod

“The reason that date wasn't the end date on my tombstone is because God was there. The only reason I'm healed is because he was there. Yeah. I may have healed crooked. I've been through some stuff that changed how I see the world, but I'm healed nevertheless. Some of us have had our heart broken, but your heart still works. Some of us have had our trust betrayed, but your trust still works because God was with you.”

27s

#MiracleSurvivor

“My car made a left bead on towards the median. And all I can remember when I looked at myself in the rearview mirror is a simple prayer. God, please don't let me die. I'll spare you, the specificities of the gory details, but needless to say, if God was not with me then, I wouldn't be here preaching today.”

41s

#GodNeverLeft

“And there's somebody in this room now who you doubted the presence of God because of the trauma of what you faced. It was so dark, you thought surely God abandoned you there. And maybe this morning as I was talking, the holy spirit was speaking. And maybe now you have a different perspective. Not that it didn't hurt, not that it that we call it wrong right, but that the only reason I made it through is because God was there.”

42s

#RelationshipOverReligion

“I am not offering you religion. Religion is filled with rules. You can and can't break fear mongering control. I'm not offering you religion. What I'm offering you is an authentic relationship with the one who gave you the breath in your lungs. That's what I'm offering. Only am I offering you that, I'm also offering you an opportunity to be a part of a community who celebrates this with a weekly rhythm. You see, community is important to sustaining values.”

28s

#HealedButImperfect

“If you pay attention, you'll notice that my nose healed crooked. But I'm glad that even though it healed crooked, it still healed, and it still works. Is there anybody who's grateful for the fact that you may have some broken things in your story, but God, by his grace, let it heal anyhow. You ought to put your hands together and give God praise for the fact that he was with you and brought you through.”

42s

#PassTheMicTestimony

“Now, the only advantage I have in the room is that I'm the one with the microphone. The truth is we all have a personal testimony of a date that could have been something worse than it turned out to be. And the reason you're sitting here looking at me with a open bible on your lap is because the same way God was with me, God was with you too. And I wish that we can pass the mic around the room because the truth is we'll be here to this time next week telling the stories of people who look at us and can't tell all that God has brought us through. Is there anybody who can give God praise at the Concord Church that God was with us?”

38s

#TemptationTrap

“So the devil says, well, you a bird brain just like your auntie now. So I tell you what I'm a do. I'm a put this trap near something I know you can't say no. And we all got a nectar that we can't say no to. Forbidden rind in our teeth. And so the devil will drench the trap there, and here we are. You know you're out of pocket when you're asking the Lord to forgive you for what you're about to do.”

33s

#GodOurProtector

“Not just do we reflect on his presence. Number two, we we are rescued by the power of God. I moved through this real quick. Verse six through eight gives us lines of of power. Verse six says, he's our protector. It says, blessed be the Lord who's not given us his prey to their teeth. Our enemy, Peter tells us, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, but resist him firm in the faith, knowing that the same is being accomplished by your brothers who are in the world. God is the one who protects us as shepherd from the predators.”

32s

#MakerSaviorProtector

“Not only is he our protector, but then verse seven says he's our savior. Meaning, sometimes we'll get in a trap that we can't get out of, and he's got to save us from the trap. Verse eight says, he's our maker, which is to say if he is our maker, he has a knowing of what's in us and and a knowing of what's around us. And we can rely on the fact that if he programmed me, he is the one who can also reprogram me. He he made heaven and earth.”

30s

#GenerationalTemptation

“Because the fowler knows you made out of the same stuff the bird before you was, so you got the same weakness. So if I just put the trap in the same spot, I know what's in you more than you know what's in you. So I'm a just put the trap near what you can't say no to. You ever wonder how the devil knows your tendencies better than you do? It's because the devil used the same trap on your granddaddy and your grandma and your dad the the the devil has studied your bloodline better than you have.”

19s

#GodWithYouInWilderness

“You will know you're going into the wilderness if the Lord just got you out of sin, but ain't got the sin out of you yet. It's cool. He gonna be with you in the environment. Is there anybody who can give God praise for the fact that whenever I come to some water, I got a God who can get me through it.”

34s

#WatchTheFowler

“The reason you're looking at me with that tone of voice is because maybe you don't know what a fowler is. A fowler is a professional bird catcher. A fowler studies the tendency of birds. A fowler knows the appetites of birds, and a fowler studies the patterns of birds. And so what a fowler will do is watch a bird to study it and then preempt what that bird is gonna do and then put a snare or a trap where the fowler knows that bird is gonna be.”

46s

#PeopleOrPredicaments

“Because see, gotta be present when your enemy show up and gotta be present when environment show up. Here's what I've learned as I'm trying to, be discerning about how the spirit helps us in spiritual warfare. The devil will use two things to try to destroy you, people or predicaments. If he can't use people and sometimes you the people he tried to use to destroy you, that's another sermon for another day. If you can't use people, he'll use situations. And sometimes, the two will go together in a way that you can't tell who is what until the Lord bring you through that thing.”

40s

#GodMovesBehindTheScenes

“when the waters try to overwhelm us. If you weren't with us then, we couldn't sing this song now. So even if it's difficult to see you now, we believe that the same God who was with us then is the same God whoever shall be. And god is not just present as as a silent contributor to your story. God is present as a divine force who is providentially moving things behind the scenes and on the scenes in a way that you won't see till he open your eyes to see it. And sometimes it's not till you get through a season that you look back and you see everything his hand was doing here.”

25s

#EmergingWithFaith

“Some of y'all are, reverend, all I see in front of me is water, but what I don't know is am I going into the wilderness or am I coming out of the wilderness? Here's a sign you'll know you're coming out of the wilderness. You'll know I'm coming out of the wilderness if the faithlessness I had in the season before has now died, and I got more faith than I've ever had, and I'm ready for what God has for me next.”

37s

#RisingWatersImagery

“The swollen waters would have gone over our soul. If you read it too fast, you'll miss it. This is poetry. These are lyrics. This is music. See the scene. It says waters, streams, swollen waters. Waters, streams, swollen waters. What's waters, Rev? Think think pond. Think something I can step in and I can wade through because it's still water. Where stream, reverend, stream is water with a undercurrent.”

38s

#JesusBehindTheTree

“What the fowler does is use the bird's appetite against the bird. So the bird has a desire for a nectar or a particular type of flower or fruit. What the follower would do is take a snare like a loosely drenched rope and drape it over a branch, But he will make sure to keep the rope near the nectar because he know the bird has a bird brain and won't be paying attention to what's happening on the branch because after it purchased, it's distracted by the nectar.”

38s

#WokeByTheCrash

“03/19/2007 may not be, an important day for you, but for me, I am grateful that it was not the date on the end of my tombstone. I woke up early that morning, and after a restless night, I decided to press my way to work. And I got on 166 in Atlanta, Georgia going west, and I realized after a few minutes that I was still tired. So I figured I would try a few things to keep myself awake. The first thing I did was I picked up the phone to call my my girlfriend, and she didn't pick up because it was so early in the morning, she was asleep.”

44s

#WatersWouldHaveOverwhelmed

“Truth is nothing worked. I found myself in rush hour traffic in Atlanta, Georgia. The last thing I remember is Exit 13. The next thing I remember is Exit 15, which means I drove for two miles in morning rush hour traffic at about 50 miles per hour, and I do not remember those two miles. The only thing that woke me up was the crash I caused. A rear end of the car caused that car to spin out and face back towards traffic. I looked in the rearview mirror, all the cars behind us had stopped about a 100 yards back, which means they probably saw me swerving.”

35s

#HealingAndCommunity

“God in heaven, we thank you for the sacred time we've spent at your feet. Thank you for your word, which has given us the occasion to recognize that you were with us. That's the truth. We wouldn't have made it through some things we did if it were not for your presence with us, so we thank you. I pray now. I intercede for the person who's had anger towards you, frustration towards you, about dark environments or enemies that came against him. And they in the moment didn't see you there, but maybe now they do.”

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